MCMK Venturers and Rovers at the Cook-Off (Sorry Tania, I cut your head off!)

“Let the games…. begin!!”

Well, it was about time we brushed up our cooking skills! It’s that time of year when it’s cold outside and there’s too many cooking challenges on tv! Time to give ourselves our own cooking challenge. The Venturer Cooking Night had evolved into a “Feed the Hungry Rovers Challenge”.

Good thing that we meet on the same night! We originally had 5 courses planned, but in the end, only used 3, which was enough – we had enough curry to feed a small country!

Here’s what was on our exotic menu:

Binskin relative.

– Guacamole: This is a south American dish, I think. Made with avocado and tomato and is delicious!!! We were lucky to have the Binskin secret recipe, which was handed down for thousands of years from ancient Binskin Aztec relatives.
– Jackfruit curry: Jackfruit is the largest fruit available. It can be cooked when unripe, and it’s like a vegetable. When it’s ripe – it’s a fruit!! When it’s cooked, it has the texture of chicken. Hey, this is meat for vegetarians!! (Sorry, I got a bit excited there!)

– Tzatziki: A greek dip made with cucumber, yoghurt and garlic!!! Mmmm… I got this recipe from an oldGreek lady in a bakery in Dee Why. Caution: makes your breath stink, but who cares?

Jackfruits - Why stop at eating one only?

All our venturers had a great time preparing the food, cutting up the veges, burning the curry powder (all curry powder has to be toasted!) and mixing all the ingredients. It was a lot of fun, noisy though, because the scouts were next door making a huge racquet (ie. noise – not the tennis stick thing)

Time to plate it up!! We served up our dishes to ourselves and the Rovers! Hey, they like this stuff! Many went back for seconds!

The night was a huge success!!!

I can’t wait for the next Venturer and Rover cooking night! It will be the Rovers turn to cook for us! Let’s see if they can cook something other than sanga sandwiches and sauce!!

Mt Colah Mt Kuring-Gai Rovers are a dynamic crew who strive to get active. Indoors or out, we enjoy a range of activities that suit a variety of interests. From putt-putt golf, martial arts, weekend adventures to helping out those in need, MCMK Rovers are always up for a challenge!

2010 went out with a bang, with MCMK Rovers running the Sydney North Region Christmas Rover Annual Party (CRAP), with the theme “CRAP on Fire”. Over 70 Rovers from across the Region gathered to celebrate another successful year of Rovers. Awards were presented to outstanding individuals and Rover Crews, with MCMK Rovers receiving the Sydney North “Roscar” award for Outstanding Effort / Most Improved Rover Crew.

In February, this year’s Roventure, themed “Rome-venture” presented an opportunity for us to spend the weekend with Venturers and Rovers from across the region. Likewise, Dragonskin which was held recently over Easter, was much anticipated by both Venturers and Rovers. Our crew ran an activity base, challenging Venturers with various mind games. Dragonskin was also a great opportunity for our crew to spend time together, with ten of us there over the weekend. Overall it was a successful weekend, except for an encounter with a pine tree.

MCMK Rovers have attended many Region events in the past months, including a Region Mexican dinner, and Western Moot, which was held at Nords Wharf in March, with lots of activities including a cowboy pentathlon. The Crew has many more events planned for the rest of the year, some of which we will be organizing. We will soon be running Not-a-Moot, a weekend event that will involve Rovers from around the region, which will provide a chance for activities and relaxation. Also, we are planning a Hornsby District camp at the Binskins’ farm near Taree, which was a huge success last year.

This year, MCMK Rovers are continuing their strong involvement with Hornsby Gang Show. Our crew has a strong presence both backstage and shining on the stage, and we can’t wait for the spectacular show it is bound to be. Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers will be blown away by the talent in this year’s show in June.

Service has long been an important part of Rovers, and MCMK Rovers are committed to helping out in the community wherever possible. Last year, our crew participated in Hike for Hunger in support of the Wesley Mission, and helped NSW Rovers collect over 11,000 items of food to help meet the needs of homeless and underprivileged people in Sydney. Our crew recently participated in the Region Service Project at Ingleside Scout Camp to help with maintenance of the site, with Tom Hickman acting as Region Service Coordinator.

MCMK Rovers currently consists of 11 enthusiastic members, including two new Rovers, four knighted Rovers and four in squire training. It is sad for us that David Blakeley and Chris Whitfield will be leaving the Crew later this year as they have almost completed their time with Rovers. Their tremendous contributions to the crew over the years have significantly shaped the crew, and will remain an inspiration to us in the future. We plan to farewell David with a booting within the next few months.

Mt Colah / Mt Kuring Gai Rover crew is an ever growing, ever changing crew that in recent months have challenged each other to get the most out of what Rovers has to offer.

The year started off smoothly as we organised ourselves for Roventure. Once again this was a great weekend interacting with the Venturers which we believe proved to be a success.

In March the crew attended the very amusing Seuss Moot held at Kuring-Gai camp. In the month of April we proudly attended the ANZAC Dawn Service at Hornsby RSL and served breakfast to patrons. This month also saw us attend Tanks Hike organised by two of our crew members Tom and Josef. The overnight hike was held at Tanks in the Hawkesbury where we were gladly joined by some of Normo and Epping Rovers. Upon organising the trip Tom and Josef were able to complete their squiring.

In the colder months we attended Region Service (bush regeneration ) at Curl Curl beach, Mud Bash, Hornsby Gang Show performances, Hornsby District Camp at Binskin’s farm and Not a Moot at Myrall River state forest which Tom Hickman solely won the camp in which McMk Rovers will be running “Not a Moot 2012”.

Normanhurst’s Magical Mystery Tour 2010 Myths and Legends, is one of the year’s most highly anticipated event in our annual calendar. This year organised a ‘magical’ van to take on the Mythical journey to an unknown destination deep in the forest just out of Kangaroo Valley. Throughout the day we stopped at activity check points and answered questions along our future paths. Although we did not win, the night was still full of celebrations and dancing. The Hornsby District Camp consisted of Mc/Mk, Normanhurst and Berowra Rovers where we camped for a week at Binskin’s farm on Mitchell’s Island near Taree. Rovers took up their Mud Bash Cars/Motor Bikes and made a racing course which was the highlight of the week.

Hornsby Gang Show 2010 was a great big success and especially since most of our Rovers are in cast and or involved behind the scenes. This year was Andrew Chan’s first year in the show and he enjoyed himself tremendously learning new skills and making lifelong friends. He encourages all Cubs, Scouts, Ventures and Rovers to see the 2011 show as well as 11 year old plus members to Audition for 2011. Auditions will be early December 2010. Go to http://www.gangshow.com for more information and to grab your application form.

We have recently collected cans for the annual Wesley Mission Hike for Hunger, a state wide project instigated by Rovers to support the Wesley Mission’s Homeless Kids Outreach Program. Our crew, letter- box dropped notices, and in the following weeks stopped by to collect can donations. One night we were happily joined by Mt Colah and Berowra Ventures who helped out with the collection. We now have over 1040 cans that will be presented to Wesley Mission on the 6th of November. Rovers from Sydney’s north side first initiated the Hike for Hunger in 1999 and it now forms an important part of the NSW Rover’s service program. To celebrate the Hike for Hunger’s 10th anniversary in 2009, NSW Rovers set out to collect 10,000 items. This goal was surpassed, with over 11,000 items being collected.

Our next event will be *C*R*A*P* ON FIRE! (Christmas Region Annual Party) to be held at our much awaited new Mt Colah/Mt Kuring -Gai Scout Hall, which we have been attending working bee’s to see its completion in time.

2011 will sadly see’s both David Blakeley and Chris Whitfield turn of age and be booted midyear. The crew will then be lead by Tom Hickman who is now in training to become crew leader, as well as Josef Urmenyhazi as assistant CL.Mc/Mk’s next step is to witness a long awaited new hall be completed so we can finally call somewhere home.